It’s two-and-a-half years since Frankie was given the devastating news he had cancer but he’s determined to see his young family grow up.

The couple met in a café when Esther was just 17 and Frankie 45.

Esther, a call centre worker from Broxburn, West Lothian, admits the age gap initially worried her parents, who were only a few years older than Frankie.

She said: “I could understand their concerns, but Frankie and I just hit it off.

“Age doesn’t matter if you meet the right person. I’d been out with people my own age, slightly older and slightly younger.

“But from when I met Frankie, we were inseparable.”

Frankie had been married twice before and has a grown-up son and daughter in Australia and two sons in Devon.

But the pair fell in love, moved in together within months and married a couple of years later.

Esther suffered the heartache of a miscarriage before going on to have sons Kieran, now 10, and Sean, who will turn eight next week.

Frankie had been ill for a few months before he was sent to have a colonoscopy in November 2009.

But the doctors couldn’t perform the procedure after discovering a tumour in his bowel.

Esther said: “You hear ‘cancer’ and you automatically think the worse. We were devastated.

“I thought I was going to be sick. We sat in shock then afterwards the tears came and we hugged each other.”

Esther had never considered Frankie’s age might put him at at increased risk of falling ill one day.

She said: “I’ve got a friend who’s battled breast cancer four times and she’s only in her 30s. You can get cancer at any age.”

Four days after the initial diagnosis the couple were told the cancer had spread to Frankie’s liver and lungs and he might only have six months to live.

Esther said: “The oncologist said if the chemotherapy didn’t work, or if Frankie decided not to have it, the most we were looking at was six months as it was a very aggressive cancer.

“We were both trying to stay strong for each other but we were distraught. I couldn’t imagine Frankie not being there.”

The couple decided to draw up a wish list of things Frankie wanted to experience, such as taking the boys fishing and having weekends away.

And they vowed to give their sons the best Christmas possible – in case it was Frankie’s last.

But shortly after the festivities, Esther began to feel nauseous.

She said: “I hadn’t been eating well or sleeping and I’d lost quite a lot of weight.

“I’d put it down to stress then suddenly, I realised I could be pregnant.

“Frankie told me I was being silly but I did a test and it was positive. I told Frankie, ‘We’ve got a problem – I’m ­pregnant.’ My immediate thought was, ‘This can’t ­happen. We’d be crazy to bring another child into these circumstances.’

“I couldn’t see how I’d be able to cope with having a baby at such a stressful time. I don’t particularly believe in abortions but I couldn’t see how I’d manage with a baby.

“I went to see my GP who told me, ‘Circumstances change, but your beliefs don’t.’ I realised that I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if got rid of the baby.

“I appreciate people have abortions for a number of reasons but I realised it wouldn’t have been right for me.”

Frankie explained: “I told Esther it was her decision – but deep down I knew she would decide to keep the baby and I’m so glad she did.

“At first I thought someone up there has thought, ‘I need to take him – but I’ll leave Esther with a baby.’

“But then I saw the baby as a reason to fight to live longer. I said to the doctors, ‘Six months is not enough. I’ve got to see the birth of my baby.’

“My daughter has kept me going. We were blessed to have her at such a difficult time. Knowing she was on the way pushed me on because I wanted to see her born.”

When Alicia was born in August 2010, Frankie sobbed with happiness when he held her and cut the cord. Esther said: “Just seeing them together is such a joy and I wonder how could I have considered not having her.

“I hope nothing happens in the near future so that she can build memories with Frankie, just like the boys.”

The couple are determined to remain positive for the future.

Esther said: “The doctors are amazed at how well Frankie has responded to chemo.”

“It was exciting seeing her crawl and then take her first steps at 10 months.

“Kieran is a talented footballer and I was so proud when he was signed to the Falkirk Academy last year.

“And Sean is so clever – I love reading his school reports. I’m really proud of my children and how they’ve coped and been so strong through my illness.

“I’ve met – but also lost – a lot of really nice people through cancer.

“I’d like to give people some hope of what’s possible. I’ve found strength from my children and Esther.

“With cancer, I can see how it could be easier to give up and not bother about carrying on every day. But I couldn’t do that. I have to stay positive about life. There are a lot of things I’ve still to do.

“It breaks my heart when I see wee kids battling cancer – some have never even been able to leave hospital and haven’t experienced much of life.

“I get my strength from knowing those kids are fighting it, so I’ve got to fight it too. However bad your situation is there’s always someone worse off than you are, so I don’t feel sorry for myself.

“I’ve had a good life and I’ve been blessed to have children and a wonderful wife – so I’m not giving in to it.”